Packing Slip 
item |
2006 American Psychological Association 114th Annual Convention |
contact |
Ann Ewing (Mesa Community College) ewing@mail.mc.maricopa.edu |
college(s) |
Mesa Community College |
discipline(s) |
Psychology |
summary |
I attended the 2006 Convention of the American Psychological Association (APA) in New Orleans Louisiana, from August 10-13, 2006.I had the opportunity to hear outstanding presentations on the teaching of Psychology and on content areas in my teaching field. |
details |
I attended the 2006 Convention of the American Psychological Association (APA) in New Orleans Louisiana, from August 10-13, 2006. I had the opportunity to represent the Mesa Community College Chapter of Psi Beta, the national honor society for students of Psychology, which received the National Anne Garret Robinson College Life Award. I am the advisor for the MCC Chapter and I had written the nomination for this award. I also had the opportunity to hear outstanding presentations on the teaching of Psychology and on content areas in my teaching field. I attended at least four sessions per day which provided me with new ideas for teaching as well as added to my knowledge of the wide variety of topics in the field of Psychology. One session that I found particularly interesting was the Charles Brewer Distinguished Teaching of Psychology Address by Dr. Randolph Smith. Dr. Smith Kennesaw State University, is a renowned teacher of Psychology and in his address titled Lessons Learned: Getting By With a Little Help From My Friends. He offered suggestions for teaching derived from his 30 years of experience. Another session that I found to be extremely fascinating was presented by Dr. Phillip Zimbardo, from Stanford University. The session was entitled Psychology of Evil: Humanity Transformations at the Abu Ghraib and Stanford Prisons. Since I spend a full week in my Social Psychology class talking about Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison Experiment, having the opportunity to hear him describe the parallels between his research and Abu Ghraib was extremely valuable. This information is very relevant to my classroom presentation. I also attended two sessions devoted to the twenty-fifth anniversary celebration of Psi Beta. This was important to me because I chartered the MCC chapter of Psi Beta in 1991 and have served as chapter advisor for the past 15 years, working with the founder of Psi Beta, Carol Tracy, who was honored at that session. During that 15 years, I have also served as National President of Psi Beta and on the National Psi Beta Council for five years. Additionally, I also nominated Armando Salazar for the National Ruth Hubbard Cousins Outstanding Community Service Award which he was awarded at one of those sessions, as was the College Life award which I mentioned previously. ------------------------------------------------------------ Outcomes: In a paragraph or two describe what worked well. Did you accomplish your objective(s)? Were you able to complete your summer project as written? If not, what did you modify and why? What did not go as well as expected, if anything? Were there any surprises? Note: Use the questions as guides for your outcomes. Do not include detailed list of workshops attended, speakers who presented, or a list of items you have seen, heard, or read. ------------------------------------------------------------ The APA convention provided an outstanding opportunity for my professional growth. I heard new information in numerous presentations, had the honor of representing MCC Psi Beta at award presentations, and had the opportunity to network with Psychology professors across the country. The convention is always a very valuable learning experience and I appreciate the opportunity that I had to hear outstanding presentations in Psychology and in teaching. The convention experience met all my expectations. The unexpected part of my project was the negative experience of being in New Orleans. The American Psychological Association went through an agonizing decision making process over whether to cancel the convention or move it from New Orleans after Katrina struck. They decided to leave the plans intact in the hope of contributing to the recovery of the area. This was the largest convention to be held in New Orleans since the disaster. Evidence of the destruction was clearly visible and the toll that it had taken on the residents was frequently verbalized by local people that we encountered. It was heart wrenching. ------------------------------------------------------------ Professional Growth: Your own professional growth is a large part of your project. Your professional growth is important to you, your students, your college, and possibly other colleagues. How did project affect you professionally? What skills did you learn? What environments were you working in and how might your summer project influence your teaching or other responsibilities? Did you gain a different perspective? Was it professionally valuable for you? ------------------------------------------------------------ Attendance at the 2006 APA Convention was a wonderful professional growth opportunity. I had the opportunity to learn new information that I can incorporate in my classes, learn new techniques for teaching, represent MCC at the National Psi Beta meeting, and network with members of PT@CC, Psi Beta,. and the Society for Teaching of Psychology. I was the founding chair of PT@CC, Psychology Teachers at Community Colleges, a subgroup of APA. I attended a dinner and reception with the Executive Committee of PT@CC. I will represent PT@CC at an upcoming APA Board of Educational Affairs meeting in November. This meeting allowed me to stay current with PT@CC business so that I can represent them effectively. Additionally, I am a field editor for The General Psychologist, a publication of Division I of APA. The convention gave me the opportunity to network with prominent psychologists whom I may invite to write segments for the column that I write in this publication. ------------------------------------------------------------ Dissemination: How will you share this information with your colleagues, department, students, or college? ------------------------------------------------------------ I have already used some of my new information in my Social Psychology class. I taught about the Stanford Prison Experiment and incorporated the analogies to Abu Ghraib that I learned about. I also brought back the College Life Award to our Psi Beta Chapter. Additionally, I brought back new information and resources to the Psychology Department and my networking will pay off throughout the year. Thank you for the opportunity to grow as a teacher, a psychology professional, and a Psi Beta Advisor. Note! As a professional courtesy to the owner of this package, if you use some aspect of this package or have some thoughts about it, please share your feedback via the comments form below. |
web links |
http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/fpg/ |
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extra |
Last modified: Sep-24-2006 Date created: Sep-24-2006 Visitor count: 2483 Dublin Core Metadata record  This package is included in the Faculty Professional Growth Summer Project Reports special collection. |
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